Mackie 1402-VLZ3 User Manual

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18
1402-VLZ3
1402-
VLZ3
U
O
O
+10
U
O
O
+20
U
O
O
+20
dB
10
5
5
U
10
dB
10
5
5
U
10
20
10
7
4
2
0
2
4
7
10
20
30
LEVEL
SET
LEFT
RIGHT
ALT 3–4
TAPE
MAIN MIX
ASSIGN
TO MAIN MIX
SOLO
MODE
LEVEL SET (PFL)
NORMAL (AFL)
C-R/SOURCE
PO
48V
WER
RUDE
SOLO
LIGHT
MAIN MIX
CTL ROOM 
/SUBMIX
0dB=0dBu
At the risk of creating another standard, Mackie’s 
compact mixers address the need of both crowds by call-
ing things as they are — 0 dBu (0.775 V) at the output 
shows as 0 dB VU on the meters. What could be easier? 
By the way, the most wonderful thing about standards is 
that there are so many to choose from. 
Remember, audio meters are just tools to help  assure 
you that your levels are “in the ballpark.” You don’t have 
to stare at them  (unless you want to). 
A WORD ABOUT AUX
Sends are outputs, Returns are inputs. The AUX [30] 
and [31] knobs  tap the signal off the channel and sends 
it to the AUX SEND [8] outputs. The AUX 1 signal is 
sent to the AUX 1 MASTER [40] knob before going 
to the AUX SEND 1 output and the AUX 2 signal goes 
directly to the AUX SEND 2 output.
These outputs can be fed to the inputs of a reverb or 
other device. From there, the outputs of this external 
device are fed back to the mixer’s STEREO RETURN [7] 
jacks. Then these signals are sent through the STEREO 
RETURN [41] level controls, and are  fi nally delivered to 
the main mix.
39
40
42
41
So, the original “dry” signals go from the channels 
to the main mix and the affected “wet” signals go from 
the STEREO RETURN to the main mix, and once mixed 
together, the dry and wet signals combine to create a 
glorious sound. So, armed with this knowledge, let’s visit 
the Auxiliary World:
39. PRE/POST (AUX 1) 
Besides being used to work effects into your mix, Aux 
Sends serve another critical role — that of delivering 
cue mixes to stage monitors, so musicians can hear what 
they’re doing. On the 1402-VLZ3, AUX SEND 1 can play 
either role, depending on the position of this switch.
With the AUX 1 SELECT switch up (disengaged), 
AUX SEND 1 will tap a channel pre-fader [23] and pre-
MUTE/ALT 3-4 [25], meaning that no matter how you 
manipulate those controls as they feed the main mix, 
the AUX SEND will continue to belt out that channel’s 
signal. This is the preferred method for setting up stage 
monitor feeds. EQ settings will affect all AUX SENDs.
With the switch down, the AUX SEND 1  becomes an 
ordinary effects send — post-fader and post-MUTE/ALT 
3-4. This is a must for effects sends, since you want the 
levels of your “wet”  signals to follow the “dry” level.
40. AUX 1 MASTER
The AUX 1 MASTER provides overall level control of 
AUX SEND 1, just before it’s delivered to the AUX SEND 
1 [8] output. (AUX SEND 2 has no such control.) This 
knob goes from off (turned fully down), to unity gain at 
the center detent, with 10 dB of extra gain (turned fully 
up). As with some other level controls, you may never 
need the additional gain, but if you ever do, you’ll be 
glad you bought a Mackie.
This is usually the knob you turn up when the lead 
singer glares at you, points at his stage monitor, and 
sticks his thumb up in the air. (It would follow suit that 
if the singer stuck his thumb down, you’d turn the knob 
down… but that never happens.)
41. STEREO RETURNS
These two controls set the overall level of  effects re-
ceived from STEREO RETURN [7] inputs 1 and 2. These 
controls are designed to handle a wide range of signal 
levels, from off, to unity gain at the detent, with 20 dB 
gain fully  clockwise, to compensate for low-level effects.
Typically, these knobs can just live at the center 
detent, and the effects device’s output control should 
be set at whatever they call unity gain (check their 
manual). If that turns out to be too loud or too quiet, 
adjust the effects device’s outputs, not the mixer. That 
way, the mixer’s knobs are easy to relocate at the center 
detent.